The Maximalist

       Last September I drove out to an area north of Montreal and picked up a Vandercook 4 printing press. Its a proofing press that many use for letterpress.I have a strong background in textile design using silk screen printing and it was my idea to expand on that via lino and woodcut printing. It proved to be quite the undertaking (all disassembled 1600lbs of it) and in some ways very close to my work on hand flat industrial knitting machines. My first knitting machine was a real fixer upper and in turn so was this printing press. I know it inside and out.
      I also learned I was suffering from production fatigue and the move to other media was really beneficial in understanding my love of knitting. I have since purchased more knitting machines, more equipment, more printing tables, books and supplies. As well Ive taken on some knitwear teaching and Im re-learning some tried and true techniques that perhaps I had forgotten. 
        I think as artists and makers we can get caught up in the idea of staying with one medium but when we do one thing too much our complex brains seek out creativity and variety. 
        Following that, this whole minimalist trend really doesn't sit well with my need to constantly collect, curate, edit and spit out new work. So I've come to terms with being a Maximalist.